James Schylor Lance was born in Jackson Missouri, but raised in Cape Girardeau. He was one of six boys and two girls. He worked for the Buick Motor Company as a mechanic before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps on June 16, 1917. After three months training, at Paris Island, South Carolina, he was sent to France during WWI. Private Lance served on the front lines, in the trenches, and "No Man's Land" as a rifleman and the company runner for the 97th "M" Company, 4th Brigade, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, AEF, becoming a combat veteran of Belleau Wood/Chateau Thierry, Soissons, Champagne, and others. He was once wounded by gunfire (shot in the leg) and severely gassed three times in battle (mustard gas, phosgene and chlorine gas) finally resulting in lung damage and his larynx being nearly destroyed. He couldn't speak above a low whisper, as a result, for the rest of his life.
He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), a French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, Marine Good Conduct Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (rare for Marines!), WW1 Victory Medal with 3 campaign clasps (Defensive Sector, Aisne-Marne, and Aisne), and three overseas stripes. He was Honorably Discharged (Medically) on April 23, 1919. But continued to be treated by the military due to his gas wounds for the rest of his life.
As a result of his required treatment, he was sent to a number of hospitals all over the in the United States. Starting with Walter Reed hospital in Washington D.C., then to Silver City New Mexico, from there to Fitzsimons Army Hospital (near Denver, Colorado) which was a facility that was founded by the United States Army during WWI to treat the large number of casualties from the use of chemical weapons in European war. He was later returned to St. Louis, Missouri then Los Angeles, then San Diego, California. and finally a small little homestead in Grants Pass, Oregon.
He married Virginia Clore in 191?, and had two children James Jr. and Betty Lou. He traveled and lived all over the US, before finally settling in Oregon and was working as a professional gardener about the time of his death. Known to his family as "Papa Jim" he was a very kind and loving man, who was loved and respected by all who knew him. (bio by Jay Lance)
He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), a French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, Marine Good Conduct Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (rare for Marines!), WW1 Victory Medal with 3 campaign clasps (Defensive Sector, Aisne-Marne, and Aisne), and three overseas stripes. He was Honorably Discharged (Medically) on April 23, 1919. But continued to be treated by the military due to his gas wounds for the rest of his life.
As a result of his required treatment, he was sent to a number of hospitals all over the in the United States. Starting with Walter Reed hospital in Washington D.C., then to Silver City New Mexico, from there to Fitzsimons Army Hospital (near Denver, Colorado) which was a facility that was founded by the United States Army during WWI to treat the large number of casualties from the use of chemical weapons in European war. He was later returned to St. Louis, Missouri then Los Angeles, then San Diego, California. and finally a small little homestead in Grants Pass, Oregon.
He married Virginia Clore in 191?, and had two children James Jr. and Betty Lou. He traveled and lived all over the US, before finally settling in Oregon and was working as a professional gardener about the time of his death. Known to his family as "Papa Jim" he was a very kind and loving man, who was loved and respected by all who knew him. (bio by Jay Lance)
James Schylor Lance was born in Jackson Missouri, but raised in Cape Girardeau. He was one of six boys and two girls. He worked for the Buick Motor Company as a mechanic before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps on June 16, 1917. After three months training, at Paris Island, South Carolina, he was sent to France during WWI. Private Lance served on the front lines, in the trenches, and "No Man's Land" as a rifleman and the company runner for the 97th "M" Company, 4th Brigade, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, AEF, becoming a combat veteran of Belleau Wood/Chateau Thierry, Soissons, Champagne, and others. He was once wounded by gunfire (shot in the leg) and severely gassed three times in battle (mustard gas, phosgene and chlorine gas) finally resulting in lung damage and his larynx being nearly destroyed. He couldn't speak above a low whisper, as a result, for the rest of his life.
He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), a French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, Marine Good Conduct Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (rare for Marines!), WW1 Victory Medal with 3 campaign clasps (Defensive Sector, Aisne-Marne, and Aisne), and three overseas stripes. He was Honorably Discharged (Medically) on April 23, 1919. But continued to be treated by the military due to his gas wounds for the rest of his life.
As a result of his required treatment, he was sent to a number of hospitals all over the in the United States. Starting with Walter Reed hospital in Washington D.C., then to Silver City New Mexico, from there to Fitzsimons Army Hospital (near Denver, Colorado) which was a facility that was founded by the United States Army during WWI to treat the large number of casualties from the use of chemical weapons in European war. He was later returned to St. Louis, Missouri then Los Angeles, then San Diego, California. and finally a small little homestead in Grants Pass, Oregon.
He married Virginia Clore in 191?, and had two children James Jr. and Betty Lou. He traveled and lived all over the US, before finally settling in Oregon and was working as a professional gardener about the time of his death. Known to his family as "Papa Jim" he was a very kind and loving man, who was loved and respected by all who knew him. (bio by Jay Lance)
He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), a French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, Marine Good Conduct Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (rare for Marines!), WW1 Victory Medal with 3 campaign clasps (Defensive Sector, Aisne-Marne, and Aisne), and three overseas stripes. He was Honorably Discharged (Medically) on April 23, 1919. But continued to be treated by the military due to his gas wounds for the rest of his life.
As a result of his required treatment, he was sent to a number of hospitals all over the in the United States. Starting with Walter Reed hospital in Washington D.C., then to Silver City New Mexico, from there to Fitzsimons Army Hospital (near Denver, Colorado) which was a facility that was founded by the United States Army during WWI to treat the large number of casualties from the use of chemical weapons in European war. He was later returned to St. Louis, Missouri then Los Angeles, then San Diego, California. and finally a small little homestead in Grants Pass, Oregon.
He married Virginia Clore in 191?, and had two children James Jr. and Betty Lou. He traveled and lived all over the US, before finally settling in Oregon and was working as a professional gardener about the time of his death. Known to his family as "Papa Jim" he was a very kind and loving man, who was loved and respected by all who knew him. (bio by Jay Lance)
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